Abstract
Cytotoxic drugs in cancer therapy are used with the expectation of selectively killing and thereby eliminating the offending cancer cells. If they should die in an appropriate manner, the cells can also release danger signals that promote an immune reaction that reinforces the response against the cancer. The identity of these immune-enhancing danger signals, how they work extra- and intracellularly, and the molecular mechanisms by which some anti-cancer drugs induce cell death to bring about the release of danger signals are the major focus of this review. A specific group of mitocans, the vitamin E analogs that act by targeting mitochondria to drive ROS production and also promote a more immunogenic means of cancer cell death exemplify such anti-cancer drugs. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the events leading to the activation of the inflammasome and pro-inflammatory mediators induced by dying cancer cell mitochondria are discussed along with the evidence for their contribution to promoting immune responses against cancer. Current knowledge of how the danger signals interact with immune cells to boost the anti-tumor response is also evaluated.
Keywords: Mitocans, immunotherapy, inflammasome, cancer therapy, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Title:Use of Anti-Cancer Drugs, Mitocans, to Enhance the Immune Responses against Tumors
Volume: 14 Issue: 3
Author(s): T. Hahn, M. J. Polanczyk, A. Borodovsky, L. V. Ramanathapuram, E. T. Akporiaye and S. J. Ralph
Affiliation:
Keywords: Mitocans, immunotherapy, inflammasome, cancer therapy, reactive oxygen species, mitochondria
Abstract: Cytotoxic drugs in cancer therapy are used with the expectation of selectively killing and thereby eliminating the offending cancer cells. If they should die in an appropriate manner, the cells can also release danger signals that promote an immune reaction that reinforces the response against the cancer. The identity of these immune-enhancing danger signals, how they work extra- and intracellularly, and the molecular mechanisms by which some anti-cancer drugs induce cell death to bring about the release of danger signals are the major focus of this review. A specific group of mitocans, the vitamin E analogs that act by targeting mitochondria to drive ROS production and also promote a more immunogenic means of cancer cell death exemplify such anti-cancer drugs. The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the events leading to the activation of the inflammasome and pro-inflammatory mediators induced by dying cancer cell mitochondria are discussed along with the evidence for their contribution to promoting immune responses against cancer. Current knowledge of how the danger signals interact with immune cells to boost the anti-tumor response is also evaluated.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Hahn T., J. Polanczyk M., Borodovsky A., V. Ramanathapuram L., T. Akporiaye E. and J. Ralph S., Use of Anti-Cancer Drugs, Mitocans, to Enhance the Immune Responses against Tumors, Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology 2013; 14 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201011314030010
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389201011314030010 |
Print ISSN 1389-2010 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4316 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Artificial Intelligence in Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that analyzes and explores biological data. This field combines biology and information system. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has attracted great attention as it tries to replicate human intelligence. It has become common technology for analyzing and solving complex data and problems and encompasses sub-fields of machine ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Vascular Injury During Elevated Glucose can be Mitigated by Erythropoietin and Wnt Signaling
Current Neurovascular Research The Beneficial Effects of Sulfur-containing Amino Acids on Cisplatininduced Cardiotoxicity and Neurotoxicity in Rodents
Current Medicinal Chemistry Quantum Dot-Based Nanoprobes for In Vivo Targeted Imaging
Current Molecular Medicine Proton Ion-Microbeam Elemental Analysis for Inhaled Particle-Induced Pulmonary Diseases: Application for Diagnosis and Assessment of Progression
Current Medicinal Chemistry Tumoral Drug Metabolism: Perspectives and Therapeutic Implications
Current Drug Metabolism Use of Anticancer Platinum Compounds in Combination Therapies and Challenges in Drug Delivery
Current Medicinal Chemistry microRNAs in Cancer: Lessons from Melanoma
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cytokine Network: New Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Current Pharmaceutical Design Impaired Expression and Function of Signaling Pathway Enzymes by Anthocyanins: Role on Cancer Prevention and Progression
Current Enzyme Inhibition Targeting ATP7A to Increase the Sensitivity of Neuroblastoma Cells to Retinoid Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Airway Fibroblast Secretory Products Enhance Cell Migration
Current Proteomics Antisense Strategies
Current Molecular Medicine Editorial [ Hot Topic:Biology in Anticancer Treatment (Guest Editor: Bruno Vincenzi)]
Current Cancer Drug Targets Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Antifolate Analogs as Potential Anticancer Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Computational & Statistical Methodologies to Identify Biomarkers in Cancer
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews PI3K Pathway Inhibitors: Better Not Left Alone
Current Pharmaceutical Design Is Src a Viable Target for Treating Solid Tumours?
Current Cancer Drug Targets Melatonin Regulates Angiogenic Factors under Hypoxia in Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR): A Novel Target for Cancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma (PRAME) and the PRAME Family of Leucine-Rich Repeat Proteins
Current Cancer Drug Targets